INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES ON THE GENESIS OF TERRITORIAL-POLITICAL CONTRADICTIONS R.R. Slyvka

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to determine the role of influence of changing natural conditions in the development of territorial conflicts. The article assesses a variety of scientific approaches to explaining the impact of environmental change on the emergence and spread of conflicts. It is advisable to identify three groups of factors for the development of socio-geographical processes: 1) preconditions; 2) managerial factors; 3) factors of self-organization. The category of preconditions characterizes the external factors of the development of territorial-political conflicts, that is, the environment. There are two main territorial contradictions associated with natural environmental conditions: 1) due to the complexity of delimitation and demarcation of boundaries along natural objects; 2) caused by the change of natural conditions and the related interpretation of the line of existing boundary. The analysis of databases on border conflicts makes it possible to conclude that the emergence of territorial contradictions is facilitated by the following environmental changes: 1) river channel processes (meandering, accumulation and disappearance of river islands, displacement of talves, emergence and disappearance of ducts); 2) warming of the Earth's climate: 2.1 sea level rise; 2.2 reduction of ice cover of the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica; 2.3 melting of mountain glaciers; 2.4 droughts and desertification in the hot belt of Earth; 3) unpredictable natural disasters (tsunami, tropical cyclones). The main manifestations of territorial contradictions caused by such influence are determined. However, worsening environmental problems will spur nations sensitivity to the problem of territorial losses. As for internal conflicts, the change in natural conditions creates favourable conditions for the growth of contradictions between social groups and may result in conflicting relationships. To the greatest extent this will be the case with marginalized social groups and regions where the capacity to adapt to environmental change is limited. It is possible to identify ecologically based territorial-political conflicts from the whole set of conflicts, which requires further interdisciplinary studies.